Martinez Municipal Code Ch. 15.10 Post-Disaster Safety Assessment Placards

This Chapter establishes standard placards to be used to indicate the condition of a structure for continued occupancy after any natural or manmade disaster. The Chapter further authorizes the Community Development Department and the Department of Public Services, as well as authorized representatives of those departments to post the appropriate placard at each entry point to a building or structure upon completion of a safety assessment.

The provisions of this Chapter are applicable, following each natural or manmade disaster, to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the City of Martinez, County of Contra Costa. The Council may extend the provisions as necessary.

Safety assessment is a visual, non-destructive examination of a building or structure for the purpose of determining the condition for continued occupancy following a natural or manmade disaster.

The following are verbal descriptions of the official jurisdiction placards to be used to designate the condition for continued occupancy of buildings or structures.

A. INSPECTED—Lawful Occupancy Permitted is to be posted on any building or structure wherein no apparent structural hazard has been found. This placard is not intended to mean that there is no damage to the building or structure.

B. RESTRICTED USE is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged wherein the damage has resulted in some form of restriction to the continued occupancy. The individual who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered and will clearly and concisely note the restrictions on continued occupancy.

C. UNSAFE—Do Not Enter or Occupy is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged such that continued occupancy poses a threat to life safety. Buildings or structures posted with this placard shall not be entered under any circumstance except as authorized in writing by the department that posted the building. Safety assessment teams shall be authorized to enter these buildings at any time. This placard is not to be used or considered as a demolition order. The individual who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered.

(Ord. 1203 C.S. § 1, 1993)